Elevated

Scripture: Psalms 32:11

There are so many ways that a person could choose to express the joy they feel in their life. When the sun is shining and the temperature feels just about perfect, you could celebrate by going on a long walk in a nearby park. Or when you hear your grandchild laugh for the very first time, you may not be able to stop yourself from clapping and shouting with happiness . . . while also taking a photo to look back on and share with your friends. We all not only feel joy a little bit differently, but we all also show it in our own unique way. 

What does it look like when you express your joy in Jesus? Does it look like singing a hymn or worship song at the top of your lungs? Or maybe for you, showing the joy you have found in Jesus looks like finding small ways to help others around you have a better day. God doesn’t just want us to experience the joy we find in Him, but He wants us to show it, in whatever way feels right for us. 

This week, challenge yourself to discover a new way to express your joy and rejoice in what God has done for you in your life.

Scripture: Luke 1:46-49

Mary, the mother of Jesus, probably had a different plan for her life than the one God had for her. Of course, today we look at her as someone who was incredibly blessed by God, chosen specifically to bear and protect the Son of God during His early years. And that’s true; Mary was blessed! On the other hand, there she was, a woman engaged to be married and yet somehow pregnant. Can you imagine the stares and whispers she must have put up with? To know that at any point when she walked down the street, those she had grown up with and known all her life would now point and gossip about how exactly Mary had gotten herself into this situation. And yet, we read that in hearing the news, Mary immediately began to rejoice. 

In the back of her mind somewhere, she probably knew that her future was now completely different than what she had thought. Instead of living as a simple wife to the village carpenter, she now found herself central to a prophecy she could barely hope for. 

Think of your life today—does it look exactly the way you thought it would? When you think back to pivotal decisions where you felt God calling you in a certain direction, do you remember the worry you felt, or did you rejoice in knowing you were doing exactly what God wanted for your life?

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:8-9

Sometimes the anticipation of something great, something that we know could be just around the corner, is enough to fill us with excitement and joy. Our car might look a little bit muddy now, but we know we just have to wait for that trip we planned to the car wash next week for it to look shiny and brand-new. Or you know that the nine-to-five job you go to day after day is helping to hone the skills you’ll use when you strike out on your own to start your own business. But for so many of us . . . we get through the day just on the hope that there will come an afternoon where we can just lay down on the couch and do absolutely nothing at all. Looking towards the end goal helps make all the hardships and struggles we’ve gone through worth it. 

It’s the same with our lives. When we put our trust and faith in Jesus, we know that the life we’re living now is just the prelude to something so much better. And while we face difficult decisions and lonely times now, we can have eternal joy knowing that our reward will be an eternity spent with our Heavenly Father—an eternity free from the struggles we deal with each day, the worries that weigh us down, and the depression that tries to have a hold on us.

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Whoever said life was like a rat race seemed to hit the nail on the head. Life can feel like a never-ending cycle of getting up, going to work, trying to juggle a million commitments between friends, family, and any sort of personal time, and then getting some sleep before having to do it all over again. On top of our busy schedules, there is also the added pressure we feel to succeed and excel at work, to be super parents and grandparents to our families, and even to be the perfect followers of Jesus. Life quickly becomes a competition of who can do it best, while, in reality, all that we want to do is survive to the next day. When we take our eyes off the goal, life can become overwhelming. 

But we weren’t meant to go through this life alone. We weren’t created to be perfect, but instead to strive to live lives that reflect the joy and love we feel with Jesus Christ. This isn’t a race that is meant to have winners and losers, but a race that reminds us that the finish line is there for everyone and that our eternal life beyond it is worth all of what we had to do to get there. 

How are you living each day in a way that gets you closer to that finish line?

Scripture: John 16:22

A big part of being human is recognizing that, while there are good and wonderful things in this world, eventually all of it will come to an end. The perfect day that you had with your family can’t last forever; the flowers we plant will only be in full bloom for a short time; and the song that you love to listen to will only play for so long. Of course, it’s the good things we experience that we want to last forever. We don’t want to think about the pain we feel, the depression that we struggle to lift, or the overwhelming feeling of loneliness we try to chase away. It’s the good things we want to hold on to. 

And when we place our hope in Jesus Christ, when we daily choose to trust His plan for our lives, we receive a gift that truly lasts forever. The gift of joy doesn’t come and go with the ebbs and flows of life but instead is a constant in our lives—a joy that can’t be stolen by the things of this world, because it’s owned and held by the one who is above all things. 

How does it feel to know that there is nothing on this earth that can steal the joy you can find in a life spent with Jesus Christ? How does knowing this change the way you see the time that you have here on Earth?

Scripture: Romans 12:10

It feels like the word “honor” has gone a bit out of fashion these days. What used to be one of the most sincere compliments and signs of respect has become a concept that’s found in the classic books we read, not our everyday interactions. And yet, as we read through the Scriptures, the idea of honor is one that’s mentioned over and over again. We as believers are called to honor one another, or in other words, to treat one another with reverence and respect. However, if we keep reading, we find that the call to honor one another isn’t limited to those who we like or who share our point of view. We’re called to continually put the needs and well-being of others before ourselves. 

It’s a mandate that looks great on paper, but in reality, is not always easy to incorporate into our everyday interactions. What does it look like to honor the coworker who never seems to have a nice thing to say? What does it look like to put the needs of a seemingly cranky neighbor over the plans we may have made for ourselves for our spare time? 

This week, challenge yourself to find ways to honor and respect someone whom you may not always get along with or see eye to eye with. This does not mean you need to interact with people who intentionally hurt you or cause harm, but instead, what’s one small thing you can do to show others you think of them first?

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:5

For many of us who grew up in the church, one of the very first commandments we learn is that we are called to love one another. And for those who went a step further and spent time studying the Scriptures, you would notice that love is a concept that’s mentioned quite a few times. Depending on the translation you use, the idea of “love” is mentioned in the Bible between 442 and 759 times. While it may not be the most common word used in the Bible, it’s clear that love is an idea that God wanted His followers to understand. We are to love one another with our whole hearts, sincerely, in the same way that God loves us. 

To be honest, this is no small feat. Our God is a God who loves men and women whom most of us would want to write off, a God who sees the good where we see mistakes, and who creates roads to redemption for those whom we would rather see fail. Our God is a God of everlasting and unfailing love. We as believers know how it feels to live in that kind of love. And God calls us to be His hands and feet here on Earth, to show love to others in the way that God would show it. 

Today, spend some quiet time in prayer, thanking God for the amazing love He gives, and asking for help in showing that love to others.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:2-3

If you’ve ever been either on a sports team or a fan of one, you’ll know there is nothing quite like the feeling of a fan rivalry. To sit in a stadium full of the opposing team’s supporters while yelling your support for your team, or hyping yourself up to play the one team that stands in the way of your championship. If you’re not a sports fan, you’ve probably seen the way rivalries play out in other areas of our lives as well—coworkers who compete for each project or promotion, friends who try to bake the best chocolate chip cookies on the block, or even clubs who work to finish a crafting project before anyone else comes close. 

For many of us, these kinds of competitions don’t always seem to bring out our best selves. We get caught up in the desire to win, and in doing so, we sort of forget to see the humanity in the other person. Your competitor stops being a friend and starts being an enemy to overcome. We begin to treat our friends and family members, even full-blown strangers, in a way that’s opposite of who we are meant to be. It’s natural to get a little caught up in competition; however, we still need to remember who we are and what we are meant for. 

What’s one thing you can say to yourself when you feel like treating another person in a way that you know isn’t acceptable to God?

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

The idea of treating others the way we want to be treated is nothing new; however, it’s a simple concept that the world continues to struggle with to this day. Unfortunately, the failure to live this out doesn’t only fall on those who may have never spent a Sunday in church or who don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Even believers and Jesus-followers have struggled to live each day in a way where we only treat those around us with respect and a helpful attitude. No one is perfect. 

There is no one alive today who was able to live their life without saying a rude comment, making a snap judgment, or manipulating a situation to make sure that they came out the winner. We all have fallen short of this commandment. And most of us fall short because we try to live this out all on our own. We think a little too much of our abilities and forget that we were given a helper to guide us through the difficult and frustrating situations of life. When we find ourselves wanting to act out or be unkind to a fellow person, we first can turn to the Holy Spirit, who resides in every person who has decided to follow Jesus. We can’t rely on our strength to stop the harsh words, but instead, we can turn to the Spirit to help change our hearts from anger to love. 

What other tools can you use to help you focus on Jesus when others around you frustrate or hurt you?

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-14

Take a moment to think about the neighbors who you have in your life. Not just the people who happen to live next door, but the people you interact with at work, at church, or even just in your everyday activities. For some of us, we may only be able to count one or two, or you may be a person who spends some sort of time with dozens of individuals every day. No matter the number, we as believers have the chance to see each of these small interactions as an opportunity to serve and encourage others—to show love and recognition to those who feel forgotten, to give a friendly smile to show a bit of care in a world that often feels careless, or even choose to have a conversation over rushing out to your next errand. You never know the impact of one small encouragement, and we also may never know the seeds that God is planting through these everyday conversations. 

So this week, learn the name of the barista who makes your coffee or say hello to the fellow commuter you see on your daily bus ride. Remember them in your prayers, and let them know that you are continually praying for them as well.

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

We’ve all heard the phrase “You can’t take it with you.” It’s a phrase that can often have us picturing a gravesite filled to the brim with random clothes, outdated cell phones, and maybe a fancy electronic or two. We can laugh at that image and think to ourselves, “That could never be me.” But take a second to look around you, especially if you’re at home as you read this. Mentally catalog all the items you see—things like home décor, books, even furniture. On their own, they may not look like much, but when we all start to count each thing we own, the number may be higher than we would want to believe. 

This isn’t to say that owning anything is bad! Instead, taking the time to be honest with just how much you have is the first step to avoiding a life where we all buy things that we really don’t need. It’s a chance to remind yourself that we aren’t missing out when we’re not buying the next new “it” sweater or buying craft supplies we know we may never use. But we already have everything we need when we dedicate our lives to Jesus. So the next time you’re eligible for the next version of your phone, maybe take a minute to see if you really need it. Or be honest with yourself about just how much you’d use that fancy new workout machine that’s become the new must-own trend.

Scripture: John 15:19

It’s no secret that the world has its very own definition of what a good life looks like. It’s not enough just to have a job, you have to want to either start your own business or work your way up to CEO. We’re constantly told that we’ll know when we’ve made it in life when we have a better apartment, a bigger house, or when we can finally trade in our minivan for that sports car we’ve always dreamed of. But when we look a bit closer, that “good life” the world sells is pretty exhausting. And Paul said it best . . . all of the promotions, the endless hustle for more, the idea of chasing something the world thinks is better, all of it is garbage compared to what we have in Jesus. 

Any accolade the world can give doesn’t even come close to the joy we find pursuing the one true God. But we have to recognize which life is truly “good” for us. Using your journal or a piece of paper, write down all the things you’d want to have in a life that you would consider good. 

Where does your relationship with God rank on that list? What are some changes you can make this week to help you reach your definition of what a good life looks like for you?

Scripture: John 3:30

If you spend any time watching a movie, binging through a great TV show, or spending hours diving into a great book, there’s usually one person who is consistently the focus of your attention—the main character. Every plot point, side character, or story arch is either dependent on or revolves around one central person. For many of us, we live our lives as if we were the main characters in our own stories. Every decision, every life change, and every moment of every day is based on what we want and what we want alone. And in some way it makes sense, after all, it’s your life! Or . . . is it? 

When we invite Jesus into our lives, when we ask Him to be our Savior, we’ve chosen for Him to become the main character instead of ourselves. Our lives no longer revolve around our hopes and desires, but instead, should be lived in a way that brings glory and honor to the God we have chosen to serve. Of course, this is easy to say, and not so easy to live out daily. We almost have to train ourselves to remember that it’s no longer our life to live, but a life we have put in God’s hands. 

As a reminder, put this Scripture somewhere that you’ll see it every day, whether as the background of your phone, written on a sticky note, or even on an index card you carry with you.

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-3

So many people love checklists, and it’s easy to see why. It’s such a tangible way to show what someone did with their day. If we’ve checked a box off our to-do list, we’ve completed, not just some random errand, but a task that needed to be done. It was our responsibility, and we completed it. Have you ever felt that sort of satisfaction? It feels good, doesn’t it? And yet, God has so much more in store for you. 

God doesn’t just give you a list of tasks to complete to fulfill some sort of obligation or to earn your way into His good graces. Instead, we get to live our lives finding opportunities to show others just what a life with Jesus could look like for them. Those daily errands we accomplish are nothing compared to living each day for others, to show them the beauty of a community of believers helping and supporting one another. 

This week, take a look at what you want to accomplish or the tasks you’ve set out for yourself. What is one thing you can do to make God the focus of each? And even more, what things can you add that help show what the “good life” in Jesus can look like for them?

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

If there is one thing we can know for certain, it’s this—we serve a God who is continually and unrelentingly chasing after us. Scripture is filled with story after story of our God extending redemption and grace to bring His creation close to Him. Even amid a worldwide flood, God was with Noah. David, a man who wasn’t perfect, is still known as a man whom God loved so much. Rahab, a prostitute, can count herself in the lineage of Jesus. Each of these great believers has something in common—they let God into their lives. They looked at the lives they could have had and made the choice to follow God. 

For Noah, that meant leaning away from the community he lived in and focusing on God. For David, it meant learning to be a king while also following the One True King. As for Rahab, she looked at the things of this world and chose to put her faith in a God she had barely heard of. None of them would likely look back on the choices they made and think that they missed out on anything the world had to offer. 

How are you choosing God each day this week?

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Have you ever had a conversation with someone and thought to yourself: “Is this person even listening to me?” The coworker you’ve been talking to for a full half-hour may be hearing the words you’re saying, but you can tell that it’s going in one ear and out the other. The fast food worker didn’t hear your order; your wife zoned out in the middle of a conversation, and even your family talked over your every sentence. Or even worse, the teenagers in your life aren’t even pretending to listen anymore. It feels like nowadays the world is full of a lot of talkers, but no one is taking the time to hear what we want to say. 

But Jesus is different. As followers of Jesus, we are friends with someone who listens to every word we say, no matter what situation we find ourselves in. If you’ve been a believer for a while, this might sound repetitive, obvious, or overstated. But this good news is worth repeating—Jesus is there to listen to you. He’s a God who doesn’t just want you to talk to Him because you think you have to, but instead, Jesus wants us to bring everything in our lives to Him. 

Today as you pray, treat your prayer like a conversation. What do you want to say?

Scripture: Proverbs 4:25

When we look at the life of Paul, we see a man who never let anything distract him from the ultimate end goal of his life—spending an eternal life together with Jesus Christ. And for one man, his life was full of distractions. While working to build the early church, Paul found himself imprisoned, shipwrecked, and at one point even bitten by a venomous snake. Add to that being thrown out of a few cities, being broken out of prison by a divine earthquake, and casting out demons, and you would completely understand if one day Paul took stock of his life and wanted to rewrite some of the events of his past. And yet Paul would tell you that even through it all, he never took his eyes off the prize. 

No matter what was going on around him or even to him, Paul chose to put his faith and his life in the hands of God—a God who was with him every step of the way, a God who came near to him on the road to Damascus and never left. 

This week, what is one thing you can do to remind yourself to keep your focus on Jesus Christ? Is there a Scripture you can memorize, a prayer schedule you can implement, or even a specific song that can work as a reminder that God is with you, no matter what may try to distract you? Because He’s always with you and as Paul learned, focusing on His constant presence is the ultimate prize.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

To have a true relationship with another person, you have to get to know them. Think about it for a second: Your best friend became your best friend after you both shared time, stories, and experiences. You didn’t just go from strangers to telling each other your biggest fears in two seconds flat. We may say we met our spouse or significant other and it was “love at first sight,” but if we’re being honest with one another, that love was built over shared dreams, deep conversations, and learning what one another values. 

But how do you build a relationship with God? How do we get to know a God who wants to get to know us? This Scripture here gives a bit of a blueprint—spend time in worship, continually share as you pray while also being sure to listen to what is revealed to you, and be thankful no matter what comes your way in life. The more we can spend time with God, through the Word and prayer, the stronger our relationship will be. 

Is there a half hour or hour of your time you can dedicate to relationship-building each day? Challenge yourself to worship, pray, and spend some time in Scripture, being sure to give it your entire focus.

Scripture: Isaiah 41:10

In a world that prides itself on how connected we now are to one another, it may be surprising to hear that some experts believe we’re now facing a bit of a loneliness epidemic. One California county has gone so far as to declare loneliness as a public mental health emergency. It seems that no matter the video conferencing software, smartphones with video calls, or even phone calls themselves, people today are feeling more disconnected from one another than ever. With so much darkness around us, we’re all just looking for that one source of light to get us through. 

And for those who put their faith and trust in Jesus, they don’t just see a small candle in a dark room but instead are surrounded by a great source of light—a light that promises to be with us, no matter the situation or storm—a light that can never be extinguished, will never flicker away, and will give us strength when we’re at the end of our rope. We have a God who promises to be with us in the loneliest times and who provides strength and shelter whenever we need. 

This week, what is one thing you can do to remind yourself that Jesus is always with you? What is one thing you can do to let others know that Jesus wants to always be with them?

Scripture: Hebrews 4:16

Have you ever taken a moment to think about what Heaven will be like? As children, we all may have imagined our mansions in the clouds connected by shiny streets of gold. For those of us getting a bit on in years, our imaginations may lean more towards a place with no more back pain or worrying about paying our next electricity bill. Whatever it may look like, we as believers will know it as a place where we are fully welcomed, a place that we get to call home for all eternity. 

And this is not because of any great thing that we accomplished on earth, but instead, only through the grace and mercy we receive from Jesus Christ, a Savior who took on all the sins of the world to create a place for us, a place that we could never earn on our own. 

Today, go for a walk outside, spend some time in a favorite chair or a comfortable room, or even take yourself to your favorite coffee shop. That feeling that you feel, of being in a place that you love so much? That feeling doesn’t even come close to life, both on Earth and in Heaven, spent with Jesus. Spend some time in prayer, expressing thanks to Jesus for the mercy and grace He freely gives to each of us who ask for it.